Lasting machine



July 9, 1929. EPPLER 1,720,212

LASTING MACHINE Original Fi led Oct. 6, 1925 Eliliiiiiii Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW EPPLER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA-- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

LAsrING MACHINE.

Application filed October 6, 1925, Serial No. 60,802. Renewed March 26, 1928.

This invention relates to lasting machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes the uppers of which are to be secured in lasted position by cement.

Machines of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,l01,167, granted December 27, 1921, on application of A. A. Macleod have been used successfully to some extent for cement lasting, the margin of the sole and the margin of the upper being coated with cement and the machine used, with the staple forming mechanism rendered inoperative, for lasting the upper and forcing the margin of the upper into contact with the margin ofthe sole to be held by cement, the anvil and nozzle of this machine being constructed to insure that the outturned flange of the upper and the sole mar 'in will receive uniform pressure to cause them to adhere.

Objects of this invention are to provide a still simpler and less expensive machine which, while retaining all the advantages of the prior machines as used for this work, will enable cement lasting to be performed more expeditiously and effectively.

Features of the invention consist in an improved organization comprising a lasting tool and a cooperating support for the shoe sole constructed and arranged so that, by relative movement of the tool and sup port, the upper may be lasted and pressed firmly against the sole margin, with means for effecting the said relative movement either manually, for example, by a foot treadle, or by power mechanism arranged to be brought into action atthe will of the operator and independently of operation of said treadle, the power mechanism being controlled preferably by another treadle in proximity to the first mentioned treadle. As shown herein, the two treadles are arranged for operation one by the toe and the other by the, heel of one of the operators feet. As shown, also, the sole support is movable relatively to the lasting tool and the power operating mechanism for moving the sole support comprises a continuously power reciproca-ted member and a device movable at the will of the operator, for example, by the second-mentioned treadle, into position between the reciprocating member and the sole support through which member, when in such position, power is transmitted to the sole support. A suitable yielding device introduced into the power transmitting system to provide for variations in the thickness of the material between the lasting tool and the sole support which, notwithstanding its yielding quality, is adapted to transmit adequate pressure to the work. Novel means for raising and lowering the support manually is provided so that when raised the work is positively sustained and separation of the work and tool prevented, and, as an important feature of the invention, the manual means for operating the work support may be used independently of or in conjunction with the power operated support raising means, and when used in conjunction with the power operated means serves to vary the movement imparted to the work support by its power operated raising means, that is, to vary the movement of the shoe relatively to the lasting tool, the manually operated means remaining at rest in the position given it during operation of the power operated means.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the lasting instrumentalities of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing means for heatin the lasting tool;

Fig. 5 is a detail partly in section of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the lasting tool.

The illustrated machine comprises a column 2 at the upper end of which is secured a bracket .t which carries a lasting tool 6 having a working face 8 inclined at about fortv-live degrees to the vertical and having a b vcled outer end adapted to enter the angle between the side of the last and projecting sole of a stitchdown shoe. lne stem 10 of this tool by which it is attached to the bracket at is arcuatc and is received in a corresponding recess in the bracket so that it mav be adjusted in an arcuate path the center of arc of which lies in the plane of the face 8 of the tool rearwardly extended. The stem 10 is clamped in adjusted position by a plate 12 and bolts M which pass through the plate through arcuate slots in the stem 10, through the bracket l, and clamp these parts rigidly together.

A sole support has its sole receiv ng face parallel to the face 8 of the lasting tool and has an arcuate stem 22 which slides in a ideway formed in the upper end of a member 2:4.- in which it is held by a clamping bolt 26 passing through an a aiatc slot in the stcm 22. The center of curvature of the stem 22 is in the plane extended of the face of the sole rest 20.

As disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings, the axes about which the tool and work support are adjustable lie between them and in such locations that the inclined faces on the tool and work support may maintain their parallelism throughout the range of adjustment of the tool and work support. in other words, the work support maybe adjusted with its inclined face at any angle desired by the operator and then the tool may be adjusted to bring its 1n clined face 8 into parallelism with the work supporting face of the support. The member 2a is clamped to the upper end of a post 28 arranged for vertical sliding movei'nent in bearings 30, 31 in the upper one of which it is splined to prevent rotation. On the post 28 is a collar 32 having a shock-absorbing w ier on its upper face which will engage the bearing before the surfaces of the tool and support come in contact, thus forming a stop to limit upward movement of the work support.

On each side of the post 28 is a roll 34-. which is engaged by a cam surface 36 formed on a cam member The member 38 is pivoted at ll) to the bearing 31 and has a rearwardly extending arm 42 to which a treadle rod a l is pivoted at t6, the lower end of the rod being pivoted to an inner trcadle d8 at 50. A spring 52 is arranged on the treadle rod 4st so as to raise the rod and hold the cam member in its outward position. By operation of the treadle t8 the cam member 38 is s ung in under the rolls 34 and acts to lift the post 28 and cause the sole rest 20 to approach the tool 6, the cam member 38 positively sustaining the work and preventing separation of the work and tool. A shoe is held with the upper of the shoe against the tool 6, and by operation of the treadle the support 20 is caused to engage the sole of the shoe and lift it, the operator still holding the shoe pressed against the tool. In this way the tool is caused to stretch the upper over the side of the last tuck it into the a; gle between the side oi the lastand the projecting sole, and press he outturned portion of the upper hard against the projecting portion of the sole the cemented surfaces being thus caused to adhere.

This manual operation of the machine is of advantageduring the preliminary stages of the lasting opcr ;-ion to'enable the upper to be drawn over the last at a number of salient points, for example, at the end of the toe and at the two sides of the toe, the operation corresponding somewhat to the pulling over operation as performed on other types of shoes. I

To continue this manual operation or the machine completely to last the shoe, would however, be very slow and fatiguing to the operator. Accordingly, with the present organization the operator can shiftfrom the manual operation of the machine to power operation by depressing a. treadle (30. This treadle, fulcrumed at 61, is held raised by a spring 62. A rod 63 has one end connected to the treadle and the other yieldingly connected through a spring 6st to one arm 66 of a bell crank leverpivoted to the column 2 at 58. The other arm 70 of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 72 to a swinging arm or detent 7e pivoted between ears formed on the lower end of a vertical shaft 76 which is mounted for longitudinal movement in a bearing 78 secured to the column 2. By depression of the treadle ('30 the detent Tel is swung over a continuously power operated plunger 80 arranged for vertical reciprocation. At its lower end the plunger 80 is pivotedat 82 to an arm 8 f on an eccentric strap 85 mounted on an eccentric 86. The eccentric is secured to a shaft 88 which also carries a gear 99 with which a pinion 92 on the shaft of an electric motor 94 meshes. The eccentric 86 and eccentric strap 85 are enclosed in a casing 95 which prevents any spattering of oil from these parts when the machine is running.

The vertical shaft 76 has a reduced upper portion 96 which enters freely a bore 97 in the lower end of the post- 28; Surrounding the upper end of the portion 96 is a sleeve 98, the enlarged lower end of which rests on a spring 100. The spring 100 surrounds the portion 96 of the shaft 76 and rests at its lower end on adjusting nuts L02 threaded upon the lower part of the portion 96. The spring presses at its upper end on the sleeve which is held on the upper end of the JO portion 96 of the shaft 76 by a pin 104 which passes through the shaft and through slots 105 in the sleeve. The initial tension of the spring 100 may be varied by adjusting nuts 102. Below the nuts 102 is a collar 106 pinned on the portion 96 of the shaft 76. This collar by contact with the bearing 78 limits downward movement of the shaft in such position that the detent 7 1 will swing over the plunger 80 when the plunger is in its lowest position, the detent being prevented from swinging too far by engagement with a shoulder formed on the upper end of the plunger 80.

\Vhen the treadle 60 is depressed the plunger 80 will engage the detent 74 and force upwardly the shaft 76, the end of the reduced upper portion 96 of which will move in the bore in the lower end of the post 28 until the sleeve 98 engages the post, whereupon the post will be raised by the sleeve and if the movement of the post is arrested the spring 100 will be compressed. As shown, the construction is such that there will be little or no space between the sleeve 98 and the post 28 when the post is in its lowest position. In order that the slanting surface of the support may not come in contact with the surface 8 of the tool 6, the arrangement is such that the washer on the collar 32 will engage the bearing before such contact occurs, any further move ment of the shaft 76 being taken up by compression of the spring 100. Of course, if there is work between the surfaces of the support and tool, a greater compression of the spring 100 will occur. hen the cam 38 is in its outward position, a full upward stroke will be given to the support 20 at each operation of the eccentric 86, movement of the support being limited only by engagement of the work. It is highly important, however, that the extent of relative movement of the support and tool be underconrol of the operator so that the lasting effect of the tool 6 in wiping down the side of the upper may be varied and controlled. In the illustrated organization the length of the stroke of the work support may be varied at the will of the operator, according to the requirements of the particular shoe or portion of a shoe being lasted, by operation of the treadle 48 while the treadle is held depressed. Operation of the treadle 48 will move the cam member 88 beneath the roll 34 and raise the post 28 toward the tool 6, thus reducing the amount of movement that can be imparted to it by the power mechanism. The operator therefore, after completing the preliminary lasting of the shoe by manual operation of the treadle 48 by the toe of his foot, will depress the treadle 60 by the heel of his foot to cause movements of the shoe rest to be effected by power, and while continuing such power operation will manipulate the treadle 48 by the toe of his foot to cause the stroke of the support to vary in accordance with the requirements in lasting different portions of the shoe upper.

It will be noted that the operation of the power means for moving the shoe support has no effect on the manual means for moving the support, these means being quite independent of each other; that is, movement of the post 28 by the eccentric 86 merely raises the rolls 34 away from the cam 36 without tending to move the cam or its operating connections to the treadle, which therefore may remain at rest.

In handling some kinds of work, better results are obtained by having the lasting tool heated, and accordingly in Fig. at is shown a bracket 4 which is formed with a recess to contain a heating unit- 110, the ter minals 112 of which are connected to a suitable source of electricity.

The tool 6, as shown in Fig. 6, may have the surface which engages the outturned flange of the upper formed with ribs or corrugations 114. shown, these ribs extend transversely of the outturned flange of the shoe upper and tend to control the forma tion of wrinkles during the lastin operation and to increase the firmness of the ad hesion of the upper to the sole. It will be noticed that the ribs do not extend to the outer end of the flange-engaging surface of the tool but that there is a narrow, smooth surface 116 along that part of the lower face of the tool which runs in the welt crease. This surface is provided to facilitate the feeding of the shoe and to prevent the formation of ridges in that portion of the outturned flange which is adjacent to the side of the last.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a lasting tool, a work sup port, manually operated means for relatively moving the tool and support to effect operation of the tool upon the work, and power means for relatively moving the tool and the support whether or not the manual means is being operated.

2. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, manually operated means for moving the support to force the work against the tool, and power means for moving the support to apply strong yielding pressure to the work whether or not the manual means is being operated.

3. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a lasting tool, a shoe support movable relatively to the tool, a treadle, connections between the treadle and support for lifting the support to cause the upper to be worked into the angle between the last and the sole by the tool, a second treadle, and power means independent of the first treadle and controlled by the second treadle for imparting repeated yielding impulses to the support while the first treadle and its connections remain stationary.

i. In a stitchdown lasting machine, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, treadle operated means for relatively moving the tool and support to effect lasting and sticking operations at selected points aboutthe periphery of the shoe, said work support being free to move in one direction relatively to said treadle operated means, and independently power operated, treadle controlled means for imparting rapidly repeated relative movements to the tool and support to facilitate progressive lasting of the upper.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the lasting tool, mechanism for moving the sole support comprising a continuously power reciproeated member, means for connecting said member to the sole support to cause the support to be lifted, and manual means for raising the sole support ahead of said power member to vary the stroke imparted to the support thereby.

6. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a lasting tool, a shoe support movable relatively to the tool and having a downward and outward inclination to enable the operator to see the upper as the lasting operation progresses, a treadle, connections from the treadle to the support including a cam for lifting the suppor to cause the upper to be worked into the angle between the last and the sole by the tool, and power means for imparting yielding impulses to the support to press the work against the tool.

7. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a lasti g tool, a shoe support, power means alw ys operable for relatively moving the tool and support to apply yielding pressure to the work, and manual means for varying the power etfected movement without affecting the amount of pressure applied.

8. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a tool constructed and shaped to enter the angle between the last and the sole margin and to press the upper against the said margin throughout its lateral extent, a shoe support having a surface parallel to the face of the tool which lies over the sole margin, manual means for effecting relative movement between the tool and the shoe support, and power means for effecting said relative movement, the amount of said relative movement being under control of said manual means.

9. In a machine for lasting stitehdown shoes, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, manual means unattached to the support but operatively connected thereto for ellecting relative movement of the tool and the support to last the upper and place its margin against the projecting margin of the sole, and power operated means operable independently of the manually operable means to:v delivering to the support'indefinitely repeated percussional impulses to cause adhesion of the upper to the sole.

10. In a stitchdown lasting machine, the combination oi? a work support, a lasting tool, means comprising a rocking cam for moving. the support and tool relatively to each other, a-nd'treadle connections for operating the cam whereby the force of the last ing operation may be under the direct control of the operator.

11. In a stitchdown lasting machine, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support movable relatively to the lasting tool and having rolls on its opposite sides,v a double cam operating upon the rolls to lift the support, and manually operated means for moving the cam.

12. In a stitchdown lasting machine, the combination of a lasting tool and a work support relatively mo able in the operation of lasting a shoe, a powerreciprocated ele' ment, and an arm movable manually into and out of position over said element to cause said element to effect relative movement of the tool and support.

13. In a stltchdown lasting machine, a lasting tool, a work support movable toward the tool, a yielding element connected witl the work support, a plunger arranged "tor power reciprocation, and an arm movable into and out of position to cause motion of the plunger to be communicated through the yielding element to the work support.

14 In a stitchdown lasting machine, the combination oi't' a work support, a lasting tool, manually operated means for relatively moving the support and tool comprising a rocking cam, a power reciprocate-d element, an arm movable into and out of position over said element, and means independent of said nianualmeans for moving said arm to cause relative power movement to be imparted to the tool and support.

15. In a stitchdown lasting machine, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, treadle operated means for relatively moving the tool and support to last the work, and independent power operated, treadle controlled means for imparting relative movement to the tool and support while the treadle operated means remains stationary.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the lasting tool, and mechanism for moving the sole support comprising a continuously power-reciproeating member, and a device movable at the will of the operator into a position between the reciprocating member and the sole support, through which member power is transmitted to the sole support.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the las; tool, mechanism for moving the sole support comprising a continuously power-reciprocatin member and an arm movable at the will of the operator into position between the reciprocating member and the sole support to cause the support to be lifted, and yielding means through which the thrust of said power means is exerted on the sole support.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the lasting tool, mechanism for moving the sole support comprising a continuously power-reciprocating member, means for connecting said member to the sole support to cause the support to be lifted. yielding means through which the thrust of the power member is exerted on the sole support, and means for varying the initial ten sion of said yielding means.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the lasting tool, mechanism for moving the sole support comprising a continuously power-reciprocating member, means for connecting said member to the sole support to cause the support to be lifted, yielding means through which the thrust of the power member is exerted on the sole support, and a stop for limiting movement of the support toward the tool.

20. In a stitchdown lasting machine, a work support having an inclined face to receive the sole of a shoe, and a lasting tool having a face parallel to the face of the work support, the said tool and work support being each constructed and arranged for adjustment about an axis lying in the plane of its face extended.

21. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, and means for relatively moving the tool and support to last the upper and press the outturned flange of the upper against the margin of the sole, said tool having ribs extending transversely of the outturned flange of the upper to control the formation of wrinkles in the upper and to augment the adhesion between the upper and sole. 7

22. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, and means for relatively moving the tool and support to last the upper and press the outturned flange of the upper against the margin of the sole, said tool having its upper-engaging face provided with ribs terminating a short distance from the outer end of said face, said unribbed surface serving to form a smooth rand crease and to facilitate feeding the shoe from point to paint in the lasting operation.

23. In a stitchdown lasting machine, a work support having an inclined face to receive the sole of a shoe, and a lasting tool ring an inclined face arranged in paralsm to the face of the work support, the sad tool and work support being constructed and arranged for adjustment about axes lying between them so positioned as to permit the inclined faces to retain their parallelism throughout the range of adjustment of the tool and work support.

24. In machine of the character described, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the lasting tool, mechanism for moving the sole support comprising a continuously power-reciprocating member, means for connecting said memher to the sole support to cause the support to be lifted, and yielding means through which the thrust of the power member is exerted on the sole support.

25. In a machine for effecting the lasting of stitclidown shoe uppers which are to be held in lasted position by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, manual operating means for relatively moving the tool and support, said means being constructed and arranged to effect operation of the tool upon the work and prevent separation of the tool and work, and power means for effecting pressure between the tool and the supportwhether or not the manual means is operated.

26. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes the uppers of which are to be held in lasted position by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a work support, manually operated means for moving the support to force the work against the tool and positively to sustain the work, power means having connections to the support for moving it, and a yielding element in said connections to cause the power means to appl yielding pressure to the work whether or not the manual means is operated.

27. In a machine for lasting stitchdown shoes the uppers of which are to be held in lasted position by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a shoe support movable relatively to the tool, a treadle, connections between the treadle and the support for lifting the support to cause; the upper to be worked into the angle between the last and the sole by the tool and caused to adhere to the sole, a second treadle, and power means independent of the first treadle and controlled by the second treadle for imparting repeated yielding impulses to the support while the first treadle and its connections remain at rest.

28. In a machine for effecting the lasting ofstitchdown shoes the uppers of which are to be held in lasted position to the projecting margino'f a sole by cement, the combination of a. vertically movable sole support having its sole engaging face arranged in a downwardly and outwardly inclined position to give the operator full view of the portion of the upper being lasted, a fixed lasting tool mounted over the support, said tool having a face adapted upon movement of the support to wipe the upper at the side of the last toward the sole and to tuck it into the angle between the side of the last and the projecting margin of the sole and having a face parallel to the sole engaging iiace of the support for pressing the outturned margin of the upper into firm contact with the projecting margin of the sole, and poweroperated means for imparting to the support indefinitely. repeated peroussional impulses to cause the tool to eil'ect its lasting operation.

29. Ina machine for effecting the lasting of stitchdown shoes'the uppers of which are to be held in lasted position to the projecting margin of a sole by cement, the combination of a vertically movable sole support having its sole engaging face arranged in a downwardly and outwardly inclined position to givethe operator full viewof the portion of the upper being lasted, a fixed lasting tool mounted over the support and constructed and arranged for adjustment height-wise of the shoe, said tool having a face for wiping the upper toward the sole at the side of the last andliaving a lace parallel to the sole engaging. face of the support for pressing the outturned margin of the upper into firm contact with the projecting margin of the sole, and power-operated means for imparting to the support indefinitely repeated percussional impulses to cause the tool to effect its lasting operation.

30. In a machine for working the uppers of stitchdown shoes nto position to be secured to a sole by cement, the combination .of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the tool and comprising upper and lower members movable relatively to each other, a spring between said members, and power-operated means having a constant stroke for imparting to the lower member indefinitely repeated percussional impulses to move the support toward the tool and cause the tool to last the upper and press its outturned flange against the pro ecting margin of the sole in position to be secured by the cement.

31. In a machine for working uppers of stitchdown shoes into'position to be secured to a sole by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable vertically toward the tool, an eccentric located be low the work support, means for continuous- 1y rotating the eccentric, and means under control of the operator for causing the eccentric to impart movement to the sole support.

In a machine for working uppers of stitchdown shoes into position to be secured to a sole by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable vertically toward-the tool, an eccentric located below the work support, means for continuously rotating the eccentric, and means comprising a swinging arm arranged for movement into and out of operative position for causing the eccentric to impart movement to the sole support. 7

In a machine for working uppers of stitchdown shoes into position to be secured to a sole by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable vertically toward thejtool, an eccentric located below the work support, means for continuously rotating the eccentric, a plunger to which the eccentric is connected to impart reciprocating movement thereto, a member arranged for movement into operative position to cause movement of the plunger to be communicated to the sole support, and means for moving said member into and out of operative position. 7 v

341. In a machine for working uppers of stitchdown shoes into position to be secured to a sole by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable vertically toward the tool, an eccentriclocated below the work support, means for continuously rotating the eccentric, a plunger to which the eccentric is connected to impart reciprocating movement thereto, an arm connected to the sole support and arranged to swing over the plunger to cause upward movement of the plunger to be coininunicat ed to the sole support, and means for swinging said arm into and out of position over said plunger. 7

In a machine forpworking the uppers of stitchdown shoes into position to be cured to a sole by cement, the combination of a lasting tool, a sole support movable relatively to the tool, a continuously rotated eccentric located below the lower member of the sole support, a plunger between said each other against spring pressure, a conand said lower member of the sole support tinuously rotated eccentric located below the for causing at will upward movement of the lower member of the sole support, a plunger plunger to be communicated to the sole sup- 10 between said lower member and the ecport.

5 centric; connections between the eccentric In testimony whereof I have signed my and the plunger for reciprocating the name to this specification. plunger and means between the plunger ANDRElV EPPLER. 

